After lying dormant for many years, the championship of Sunderland is to be decided between S. Pemberton (holder) and G. Thompson (challenger). The game is 3,000-up for £100 aside and the championship.
The men applied for the use of the Victoria Hall, a property of the local Corporation, and by the casting vote of the chairman the application was refused by the Town Hall Sub-Committee. It was stated at this meeting that the men who followed the game of billiards are not exactly desirable, and not of the type that the Hall was intended for. On the other side, it was stated that the game is a desirable one, and that its followers are people who are on a much higher level than in the days of public-house billiards.
One of the two men made a stipulation, when negotiations were first commenced, that the game should not be played in a public-house or hotel, as he was against public-house billiards, and had numerous friends who would desire to see the game played under other conditions. That was one of the reasons why the Hall— an excellent one for the purpose—was chosen.
Ultimately common-sense prevailed and the Town Hall Committee of the Sunderland Corporation decided by a large majority to allow the local championship match to be played in the Victoria Hall, over which they have jurisdiction, thus reversing the decision of their subcommittee. The match, therefore, will take place on January 20, 21 and 22, and will be played on the first local-built billiard table, made by Messrs. Fenton, Ltd., of James William Street.